Cadillac XTS approved for production, coming in 2012 with plug-in hybrid variant

If the folks at Motor Trend are to be believed, the Cadillac XTS large luxury sedan has been given the thumbs up for approval and the production model should arrive sometime in 2012. The report says that designers and engineers are working hard to keep the production model virtually unchanged from the Cadillac XTS Platinum concept, inside and out.

Also, its is said that as the XTS sedan was being approved for production, GM was pulling the plug on the production Cadillac Converj project. Why? Because GM was unable to make a business case for an expensive stand-alone model (or something along those lines).

Instead, GM figured there will be more money and green image to add by building a plug-in version of the XTS. The plug-in version of the XTS will go head-to-head with the BMW ActiveHybrid 7, Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid (and the upcoming plug-in version) and the Audi A8 hybrid. Power will come from a 3.6L V6 gasoline mated to a plug-in hybrid system originally developed for the Saturn Vue.

The Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept itself was powered by a 3.6L V6 direct-injected gasoline engine mated to a plug-in hybrid system. Working together, the system makes a total output of 350-hp and 295 lb-ft of torque.

2010 Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept:

2010 Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept 2010 Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept 2010 Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept 2010 Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept

– By: Omar Rana

Source: WOT